Black Alumni Weekend
Save the Date for Black Alumni Weekend 2027
April 23-25, 2027
Make plans to come home to Winthrop for the 2027 Black Alumni Weekend, April 23-25,
2027! With over 6,700 Black alumni, this weekend is an opportunity to honor the strides
made by our trailblazing graduates while building meaningful connections for the future.
From thought-provoking panels to community service and celebratory gatherings, this
weekend is designed for alumni, students and friends to come together and honor our
shared history.
Registration for Black Alumni Weekend will open in February 2027.
Black Alumni Weekend is held in April because April 6 is a day of reflection and pride for Winthrop, specifically for Black alumni
and students, marking pivotal moments in our history.
- 1964: The admission of Winthrop’s first undergraduate Black student, Delores Johnson, signaled what would become full integration of the university, setting the stage
for subsequent generations of students who started their higher education journey
living and learning at the Rock Hill institution.
- On April 6, 1964, then-President Charles S. Davis wrote a “confidential” letter to the Board of Trustees
reporting that the college had received applications from three Black women. Two of
the applications from Rock Hill students were “incomplete,” but the Columbia applicant,
Delores Johnson, not only met Winthrop’s entrance requirements but had test scores
“well above” the Winthrop average. After consulting with Board Chairman John Dinkins,
Attorney General Daniel McLeod, and S.C. Gov. Donald Russell, a special meeting of
the Board was called in May. Davis told the trustees that it would be advantageous
if the students were admitted without a formal court order. When the Board voted unanimously
to admit the applicants, the president requested guidance on housing. The trustees
agreed that the students should be housed “the same way” and by the “same criteria”
as white students. With the official move to integration, the South Carolina legislature
had to change the charter of Winthrop from “white women” to “women.”
- 1989: Prentiss Woods became the first Black student body president, exemplifying the leadership and achievements of Black students. Winthrop’s integration website notes the following:
- On April 6, 1989, Prentiss Woods, Classes of 1990 and 1995, was sworn in as the first
Black student body president. The Charleston native said he was motivated to seek
office in order to extend representation to all segments of the student body. Woods
based his campaign platform on the concept of diverse incorporation.
To ensure sure you are connected with Winthrop and receive information for Black Alumni
Weekend, share your updated contact information with the Alumni Association! Also, follow the Winthrop Alumni Association (@winthropalumni)
on Facebook and Instagram and the Black Alumni Council on Facebook and Instagram (@winthropbac) to stay connected.
Parking for on-campus events will be available at any parking lot on campus throughout
the weekend. Refer to the campus parking map for parking information.
For questions, e-mail alumni@winthrop.edu or bac@winthropalumni.com.
Interested in being a Black Alumni Weekend sponsor?
We are looking for sponsors, both employers and individuals, to help amplify the impact
of this special weekend. Individual sponsorship opportunities start at $250. Business
sponsorship opportunities start at $1,000. Sponsorships directly contribute to scholarships, events and programs that celebrate
and uplift Black students and alumni. E-mail bac@winthropalumni.com to learn more.
Black Alumni Council Leadership
Chelsea Brown ’14, president
Bryan Mobley ’16, vice president, communications, membership and programming
Malenia Swinton ’13, vice president, strategy and governance
Erin Blake ’07, treasurer
DeAlva Wilson Arnold ’92 ’94, advisor
Sherille Barber ’87 ’99, advisor
Isaiah Venning ’95, advisor
Byron Putman ’94, advisor
